Research areas

Neuroimmunologic Response to Surgical Aggression and Anesthesia

Systems Pharmacology Effect Control and Modeling (SPEC-M Model)

Our work has been based on using a quantitative, systems approach, to the study of the relations between anesthetic drugs and their effects by means of high resolution data, advanced signal analysis (EEG, AEP, hemodynamics, respiration) and complex data analysis using nonlinear mixed effcts modeling or fuzzy logic approaches. Models were tested by simulation of new populations and were validated by prospective or statistical techniques with the goal of optimizing drug dosing. By improving the administration of anesthetics we offer the patient an optimal protection against surgical aggression.

More recently we have started to apply the same approach, modeling, quantitation and prediction, using systems analysis, to the study of neuroimmunologic response to surgical and anesthetic insult. This approach opens a new window to the personalized protection and modulation that anesthesia must offer to patients undergoing surgical interventions.

In the area of neuroinmmunology the group have started a project of analysis of data from animal experiments performed at the laboratory of Prof M. Maze (UCSF, USA) and demonstrated the influence of metabòlic syndrome in the onset and perpetuation of cognitive decline after surgery. Specifically how a early test performed the day after surgery can predict long term decrease in learning abilities of the animals.

The SPEC-M group enriches from a clinical approach. Our working hypotheses are generated in patient care and our results can be immediately applied to patient care. We promote a close collaboration at the bedside of the patient between clinicians (anesthesiologists, nurses) pharmacology modelers and bioengineers to generate a highly synergistic and rewarding interaction for all investigators.

Our quantitative clinical pharmacology line has been continuously funded by públic agencies (Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias. Health Department, Government of Spain) as well as private competitive funding (Fundación Mutua Madrileña) in Spain. Dr Gambus is currently an investigator, in NIH project with Prof Mervyn Maze as Principal Investigator, in the field of neuroimmunology (NIH Grant nº 1 R01 GM104194-01A1) 2013-2016.

SPEC-M also collaborates with monitoring companies offering services like evaluation of new monitoring technologies. Ideas generated by our team have been developed as prototypes and right now undergoing clinical tests to demonstrate possible a role in clinical care. Two patents have been already submitted and are under evaluation.

Collaboration with other research groups is also under way being the most important the forementioned work with the laboratory of Prof M. Maze at UCSF. Also with Dr V. Degos (Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière) and Prof B. Gaudilliere (Stanford University).

Work by our group has been published in high impact journals of Anesthesiology describing models of therapeutic and collateral effects of anesthetic drugs, influence of collateral treatments or decreasing varibility by integrating individual genètic information of patients. In the area of neuroimmunology two papers have been recently submitted to high impact anesthesia journals.